Tsofli

Tsofli is an egg chair reimagined. Made only with wool, and coloured with natural dyes, this hanging chair has been designed with a focus on user comfort, durability and sustainability. 

 

The inherent properties of wool fibres are utilised throughout every aspect of the Tsofli hanging chair. Spun into ropes the tensile strength of strong wool is utilised to suspend its ‘shell’ and add tension, while finer strong wool yarn adds structure to the form. Knitted panels are stretched over the exterior of the chair body, adding texture, colour and another layer of structural support. 

 

This product combines two material developments, the first being a naturally dyed, strong-wool yarn knitted into a durable, highly flexible fabric. The second material development makes up the middle layer of Tsofli and is made with two layers of Joma memory wool, felted around pockets of scoured strong wool fibres and other wool offcuts. This material gives form to the chair, inspired by the shell of a walnut. It also acts as cushioning, utilising the ‘bounce back’ effect of Joma memory wool which is further enhanced by the added pockets of wool stuffing. 

 

The combination of these woollen materials make Tsofli highly flexible. While the weight of an adult user will be safely supported, the chair will move with them. Held back slightly by tension ropes, the sides of the chair move inwards when pressure is applied, hugging the user as they sit into it. While this may seem unusual at first, this hug-like pressure can be comforting to the user. Individuals with autism and ADHD often experience proprioceptive (body-awareness) dysfunction, and pressure applied to the body can act as an aid for this. While Tsofli is not only intended as a proprioceptive aid, this is one of the ways that I have taken user comfort into consideration through the development of this design.